Rec Rules

Rec League Rules

Rules of Play - T-Ball League

The T-Ball league is instructional baseball (non-competitive). The purpose of this program is to teach participants the fundamental skills needed to play baseball and start to learn good sportsmanship. During league play there will be no keeping of score other than to determine when the run limit for the inning has been reached. The league and coaches will not track wins and losses.

Regular Baseball Rules Apply Except as Noted Below

Eligibility - to play in the 4 & 5-year-old league is determined by the players age as of April 30th of the year and/or their grade level in the fall. A player is eligible to play at grade level as long as they are not playing with younger children.

The Field of Play - Base distance shall be 50-foot base paths. The pitchers circle/mound shall be at 38 feet measured from home plate.

Fair Ball Arc - there will be a 10-foot arc drawn from 1st baseline to 3rd baseline in front of home plate. A ball must go past this line to be fair.

Defensive Players - There shall be 10 defensive players in the field at a time. During league play, all players are to play a minimum of 3 defensive innings. The player playing the "pitcher" position must be positioned in the pitchers circle before the ball is put into play. There is to be 4 outfielders (Right, Right Center, Left Center and Left field). Outfielders must stay behind the baseline and are not to interfere with infield play. A catcher must have a mask and chest protector on when behind home plate. In this age group, if there are more than 10 players to a team, they may all take positions on the field, with extra players situated in the outfield.

Offensive Players - All players shall be eligible to bat. A late arrival is put at the end of the batting order.

Change of Inning - An inning shall end after one of the following has occurred, which ever comes first, 5 runs have been scored or three outs have been recorded.

Game Length - A complete game shall consist of 5 innings or 1 hour.

Batting - All players shall bat using a batting tee. Players have 5 attempts to put the baseball into play. If after 5 attempts the batter has not hit the ball, the batter is out. A coach from the batting team shall stand behind the batter providing instruction during the player's "at bat". This coach shall cry "Batter Up!" prior to allowing the batter to strike the ball and also this will serve to ensure the defense is ready.

Time Out - Time shall be called when an infield defensive player is attempting to throw the ball to the pitcher. The current play will stop and the next batter will be brought to the plate.

Other Rules:

There is no leading off or stealing.

There is no infield fly rule.

There is to be 1st and 3rd base coaches only while their team is batting.

The defensive team may have a maximum of 2 coaches in the outfield. These coaches are not to interfere with the progress of the ball.

Rules of Play - 6-Year-Old Instructional League

The Coach Pitch league is instructional baseball (non-competitive). The purpose of this program is to teach participants the fundamental skills needed to play baseball and start to learn good sportsmanship. During league play there will be no keeping of score other than to determine when the run limit for the inning has been reached. The league and coaches will not track wins and losses.

Regular Baseball Rules Apply Except as Noted Below

Eligibility - to play in the 6-year-old league is determined by the player's age as of April 30th of the year. A player is eligible to play at grade level as long as they are not playing with younger children.

The Field of Play - Base distance shall be 50-foot base paths. The pitcher's circle/mound shall be at 38 feet measured from home plate.

Fair Ball Arc - There will be a 10-foot arc drawn from 1st baseline to 3rd baseline in front of home plate. A ball must go past this line to be fair.

Defensive Players - There shall be 10 defensive players in the field at a time. During league play, all players are to play a minimum of 3 defensive innings. The player playing the "pitcher" position must be positioned within 5 feet of the pitcher's circle before the ball is put into play. This player is not to interfere with the coach pitching. There are to be 4 outfielders (Right, Right Center , Left Center and Left field). Outfielders must be at least 10 feet beyond the infield baseline at the beginning of a play and are not to interfere with infield play. A catcher must have a mask and chest protector on when behind home plate. At no time is a coach to place more than 10 players in the field at a time.

Offensive Players - All players shall be eligible to bat. A late arrival is put at the end of the batting order.

Change of Inning - An inning shall end after one of the following has occurred, which ever comes first, 5 runs have been scored or three outs have been recorded.

Game Length - A complete game shall consist of 6 innings or 1 hour.

Batting - All players will be pitched 5 pitches. If after 5 pitches the batter has not hit the ball, and if coaches have agreed beforehand, the batter has one chance to hit a ball off the tee before being called out. A coach from the batting team shall pitch to their player, providing instruction during the player's "at bat." This coach shall cry "Batter Up!" prior to allowing the batter to strike the ball and this is also to ensure the defense is ready.

Time Out - Time shall be called when an infield defensive player is attempting to throw the ball to the (player) pitcher. The play is to stop and the next batter is to be brought to the plate.

Other Rules:

· There is no leading off or stealing.

· There is no infield fly rule.

· There are to be 1st and 3rd base coaches only while their team is batting.

· The defensive team may have a maximum of 2 coaches in the outfield. These coaches are not to interfere with the progress of the ball.

Rules of Play - 7-Year-Old Instructional League

The Machine Pitch league is instructional baseball. The purpose of this program is to teach participants the fundamental skills needed to play baseball and start to learn good sportsmanship. During league play there will be no keeping of score other than to determine when the run limit and or 3 outs have been recorded. The league and coaches will not be required to keep track of wins and losses.

Regular Baseball Rules Apply Except as Noted Below

Eligibility - to play in the 7-year-old league is determined by the player's age as of April 30th of the year. A player is eligible to play at grade level as long as they are not playing with younger children.

The Field of Play - Base distance shall be 50-foot base paths. The front legs of the pitching machine will be placed at 38 feet. A 10 foot in diameter circle is to drawn around the pitching machine. Any batted ball hitting the pitching machine is dead and the hitter is awarded first base. All runners advance one base.

Fair Ball Arc - There will be a 10 foot arc drawn from 1st baseline to 3rd baseline in front of home plate. A ball must go past this line to be fair.

Pitching Machine - Both teams will use the same, league-issued pitching machine, agreed-upon by the two coaches, for the duration of a game, with one agreed-upon speed, within the range of 25-30 mph.

Defensive Players - There shall be 10 defensive players in the field at a time. During league play, all players are to play a minimum of 3 defensive innings. The player playing the "pitcher" position must be positioned within 5 feet of the pitchers circle before the ball is put into play. This player is not to interfere with the coach pitching. There is to be 4 outfielders (Right, Right Center , Left Center and Left field). Outfielders must be at least 20 feet beyond the infield baseline at the beginning of each play. A catcher must have a mask and chest protector on when behind home plate. At no time is a coach to place more than 10 players in the field at a time.

Offensive Players - All players shall be eligible to bat. A late arrival is put at the end of the batting order. The batting order is to be given to the opposing coach and is to remain the same unless a player leaves the game.

Change of Inning - An inning shall end after one of the following has occurred, which ever comes first, 5 runs have been scored or three outs have been recorded.

Game Length - A complete game shall consist of 6 innings or 1 hour, 15 minutes.

Batting - All players shall be pitched by a coach from their team using the agreed-upon pitching machine. Players have 5 attempts to put the baseball into play. If after 5 attempts the batter has not hit the ball, the batter is out. At the discretion of the coaches/umpire, a poor pitch by the machine need not count toward the "5 attempts."

Time Out - Time shall be called when an INFIELD defensive player is attempting to throw the ball to the pitcher. Coaches are expected to teach cut off throws to the infield players which the infield will then throw the ball to the pitcher at which time the play is dead and all runners stop and the umpire will place all runners on the closest base.

Other Rules:

· There is no leading off or stealing.

· There is no infield fly rule.

· There is to be 1st and 3rd base coaches only while their team is batting.

· The defensive team may have a maximum of 2 coaches in the outfield. These coaches are not to interfere with the progress of the ball.

· A player throwing a bat will be warned one time, the next occurrence of a thrown bat by the same player will result in an automatic out.

Rules of Play - 8-Year-Old Modified Kid Pitch

The modified kid pitch league is instructional baseball. The purpose of this league is to teach participants the fundamental skills needed to play baseball and start to learn good sportsmanship. This program is intended to give all 7/8 year olds an opportunity to experience kid pitch and prepare them for competitive play in the WJBB Parent League (competitive baseball) beginning at age 8/9. Direction and emphasis will be placed on defensive positioning/fundamentals, game situation awareness, and getting kids familiar and comfortable with a pitched baseball. Score will be kept beginning in this age group (see ‘mercy’ rule, below). The league coaches will not be required to keep track of wins and losses. Regular Baseball Rules Apply Except as Noted BelowEligibility-to play in the 8-year-old league is determined by the player’s age as of April 30thof the year. A player is eligible to play at grade level as long as they are not playing with younger children.

The Field of Play-Base distance shall be 50’ base paths. The front of the pitching rubber to the back diamond of home plate will be 40’.

General Rules-

-Pitcher throws up to 6 pitches. -Batter either gets a hit or makes an out. -3 strikes, batter is out. -No walks. -If batter is hit by pitch, he is awarded 1st base.If the team at bat has not made a hit or an out, their coach throws 2 more pitches maximum. -Batter must put one of these two pitches into play or he is out. -Batter is not awarded 1st base if hit by pitch (HBP). -If 2nd pitch is fouled off, batter is given one more pitch.

Coaches must pitch overhand to batter; coach may pitch from one knee provided the back foot is in contact with pitching rubber.Large strike zone is used, knees to shoulders. One ball inside, one ball outside of plate.Hitters should be encouraged to swing.Bunting is not permitted. Players must attempt full swing. If umpire determines the hitter attempted to bunt, they may call the play a no pitch, and return all base runners and hitter to their previous positions.No dropped 3rd strike.No infield fly rule.Play will be stopped when pitcher has possession of ball near the pitching rubber.A teams’ at-bat is over when; -3 outs are recorded. -Batting team has batted through line up (coaches decide what that # is, 10 ideal).

All players shall be eligible to bat. A late arrival is to be put at the end of the batting order. The batting order is to be given to the opposing coach and is to remain the same unless a player leaves the game.

There are to be 1st and 3rd base coaches only while their team is batting. Base coaches shall not physically assist base runners while ball is in play. Any runner who is assisted by a base coach while ball is in play shall be given a warning or may be called out at the umpire’s discretion.

Pitching - 2 innings per pitcher, per game. 4 innings per day. One pitch counts as one inning pitched. Up to 8 warm-up pitches in the 1st appearance in each game; up to 5 warm-up pitches in the 2nd inning. Pitcher must be removed upon second visit to the mound by a coach. Once a pitcher is removed from game, they may not return to pitch that game. In the event a team plays more than one game a day, their coach must make the opposing team's coach and scorekeeper aware of which players have pitched, how many innings, and their jersey number. If a team pitches a player more than their allotted innings, their game may be forfeited.No balks will be called; instruct pitcher of what balk is, what he is doing, etc. These pitching rules are primarily for the health and safety of young pitchers.

Pitching/Playing Rules for Inter-league Rec Play (8YO vs. 7YO)

For games 1 through 4 of each season:

7YO team bats against league-issued pitching machine with speed within the range of 25-35 mph.

8YO team supplies the pitcher and catcher and pitches to its own batting lineup.

For games 5-8 of the each season:

Coach of the 7YO team may, but does not have to, choose to start the game with team's 7YO pitchers. During the game, the coach of the 7YO team may choose to switch back to using the league-issued pitching machine within the range of 25-30 mph. Once the coach switches back to using the pitching machine, they cannot use 7YO pitchers for the remainder of that game. Adherence to these rules is encouraged. Other pitching arrangements can be made if both coaches agree and advise the umpires accordingly.

10-foot Fair Ball Arc applies (no bunting) to inter-league games.

Defensive Play-There shall be 9 defensive players in the field at a time. Teams may agree to play 10 in the field during league play. There shall be at least 3 outfielders (left, center, right), or 4 outfielders if playing with 10. Outfielders must be 20 feet beyond the infield baseline at the beginning of each play. A team may play with only 8 players if needed. Coaches shall rotate players in the field every inning so as to allow equal playing time throughout the game. No player shall sit out 2 consecutive innings. Defensive team may have a maximum of 2 coaches in the outfield. These coaches shall not interfere with the progress of the ball or play. Coaches are to emphasize that infielders remain out of the baseline when runners are in motion and at no time may they block a base, unless the fielding team has possession of the ball and is attempting to put out a base runner.

Base Running- No lead offs or stealing bases. Base runners may advance once the ball is put into play by the batter. Base runners cannot advance on passed balls or wild pitches. Base runners should make an attempt to slide feet first on any close plays. Base runners may be called out if no attempt to slide is made on close plays. Head first slides are not allowed and runner may be called out if umpire feels a base runner is intending to make contact with a fielder. Base runners are allowed one base on an overthrow. Base runners that are not half way when ball is controlled by pitcher shall be sent back to previous base. If umpire determines base runners violated any of these guidelines, the base runners shall be sent back to original positions or base allowed by guidelines.

Catchers must wear a mask, chest protector, shin guards, and protective cup when behind home plate. Any player warming up a pitcher must wear a mask and cup.

Game length- 6 innings or 1:15 hr time limit, or ‘mercy’ rule.At the end of the 1:15 time limit, the inning started will be completed. If after this inning is completed the game is tied, game will end as a tie.

Mercy Rule- At the discretion of a coach, a team can choose to end the game if his/her team is losing badly after at least 4 innings.

Umpires- An umpire will be assigned by the league to call balls and strikes, make safe/out calls in the field, fair/foul ball calls, and time out for 8 yr old games and 7/8 combined games. West Jeff baseball will be using young teenagers as umpires to officiate games; please remember this is instructional baseball, so please keep this experience enjoyable for all. Any abuse to umpires will not be tolerated. In the event West Jeff umpires are unavailable, the game should be played with parent volunteers as umpires.

A player throwing equipment (bat, glove, helmet, etc) will be warned one time; the next occurrence of thrown equipment by same player will result in an automatic out and possible ejection from game.